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Office of Gift Planning

Wednesday February 21, 2018

Savvy Living

How to Fight Dry Eyes and Protect Your Vision

What can be done to combat dry eyes? Since I turned 50, my eyes have become increasingly dry and irritated.

Dry eyes are a common problem that affects more than one-third of middle and upper-aged Americans. However, you don't have suffer through it. There are lifestyle adjustments and multiple treatment options available today to keep your eyes moist and healthy. Here's what you should know.

Dry Eye Issues

Dry, red, irritated eyes are one of the most common reasons for visits to the eye doctor, but discomfort isn't the only problem. Light sensitivity and blurred or fluctuating vision are common problems too. Worse yet, dry eyes are more likely to get scratched or infected, which could damage your vision permanently.

The reason people get dry eyes is because they either don't produce enough tears to keep their eyes properly lubricated or because they produce poor quality tears.

In some cases dry eyes can be triggered by medical conditions such as diabetes, thyroid diseases, allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and Sjogren's syndrome. It can also be brought on by age (tear production tends to diminish as we get older), eye conditions, eyelid problems, certain medications, environmental factors and even LASIK and cataract surgery. Dry eyes are also more common in women, especially after menopause.

Lifestyle Adjustments

The first step experts recommend in dealing with dry eyes is to check your lifestyle and surroundings for factors that might be contributing to the problem and make adjustments:

Get more omega-3s: Studies show that eating more fish and other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids (or taking a supplement) may help.

Treatment Options

If adjusting your environment and habits doesn't do the trick, there are a variety of OTC artificial tears that can help. If you experience significant burning, try another product or opt for a preservative-free formula. If your dry eyes are persistent, use gel-containing drops like Refresh, Systane and GenTeal. The gel will keep your eyes lubricated for longer periods. If you need a product that's even longer lasting, consider OTC lubricating ointments like Refresh PM.

If lifestyle adjustments and OTC treatments don't help, make an appointment to see an ophthalmologist. He or she can offer additional advice and may prescribe a medication. There are several FDA approved medications for dry eyes including Xiidra and Restasis and another in development called Lacripep.

If your dry eyes are severe and do not improve, you doctor might recommend a simple office procedure that plugs the small openings (tear ducts) that drain tears away from the eyes. Blocking these openings with punctual plugs keeps tears in place longer.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.